Torpedo propelling and steering means



Oct. 5, 1943. c. T. PETKOFF I 2,330,911

TORPEDO PROPELLING AND STEERING MEANS Filed April 15, 1942 Patented Oct. 5, 1943 "Application" My invention relates to improvementsin tor pedo propelling and steering means. f One of the objects of my invention is metropsion of novel means by "whicha self propelled torpedo of usual type can be propelled and torpedo has been released, and "which autoniatically releases when the torpedo proceeds. under itsownpower. d Still another object of my invention'gis theproj-Q vision of novel propelling and steering "means of i the kind described, whichis simple, strong,j cli1 r able, not likely to get out of order, which is easily operated to propel and'steer' theftorpedo,"jand" whichisefficientinits operation; 7 The novel features of my invention are here after fully described and claimed. j I 'In the accompanying, drawing, which illu trates a preferred embodiment of 'myinvention; Fig. 1 is a side elevation; partly. broken away, showing the "torpedo operatively lockeditoithe; propelling boat. 3 i I y Fig.2 is a top view of thetorpedo and beg t operatively connected. p f

Fig.3 is a section on the. line enlarged and broken away, ingbarslocked together. i a Fig. 4' is frontfend eleva 'o'n of the propelling boat, partly broken away and enlarged; showing; the locking means in the release position. ,1, Fig. 5 is an enlarged view looking forwardly; from the inside, showing a portionof thepropelling boat, and showing the locking; operating V shaft, its operating lever and the arcuate bar which locks the lever in its two positions, shown respectively in solid and dotted lines. i j; 2;.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view-3 of the rear end portionvof the torpedo; and a. front endportion of the supplemental pushing and steering bar operatively engagediwith the. torpedo, parts of the torpedo being omittedmli ;i Fig.7 isan enlarged top view OfpOI'tiOIlSFOf two of the alined pushingbars lockingly engaged with each other by one of the lockingarmsi's Fig, 3 is an enlargedview, partly insidefelevaetion andpartly. vertical section, showing..one.55

showingthe' connect: 35

Petlt'off, Kansas City, Mo. ril '15-, 1942;;Serial No. 439,001 sprains.- er lymij of the push bars parts being omitted. v 1 Fig. 9 is a're'duced top view of a the shaft and having the lockingfingers. 5

"Similar characters of reference designatesiinilar-parts in the'difi'erent figures. l l I lfdesignates the hull of a usual self propelled torpedo. pelled boat, suchas a small submersible, designed to propel and steer the torpedo'l to adesired location, where the torpedo is to be released and thenr-to be propelled by itsown power to tive; as a-boat to be torpedoed.

, On the top or the :boat hull z is providedwith.

13116111 1131 conning tower 3,'having the usual conninggportA, and having projecting upwardly from 6' Ides-4 the conning tower, the usual periscope, 5. ignates the usual propeller and] the usual ruddel'ng 1 Q ,7

Pushing and steering'means are provided for connecting the torpedo l releasably to the; boat 2 in front thereof. Such means in the form shown, comprise thefollowing described parts. I I 'fIhreelongitudinal rigid bars 8 are fastened at their front ends at spaced apart intervalsaround theperiphery of the torpedo land extend rearwardly therefrom.

v Three longitudinal bars'S respectively swam; tially..alined withthe bars 8 have their rear ends.

fastened to'and extending forwardly frorfithe ha ofthe boat. The bars a and s of each alined pairs are respectively provided with transverse perforations or holes I0. adapted to register,

enem es-so registering, to receive theret'hrough lookingrneans', which, as shown, consists of locking finger It, provided with means 'foroscil" latin'g it to and from th locking" position, shown l'jFi s flfi n 'l 'Asshown in Figs. l'to 4, the fingers" H are mounted rigidly onthe outer periphery of a rigid arcuate transverse bar IZfastened to the outer endjof ajradial arm l3'onthe front" end of a longitudinal axial 'oscillative I operating fshaft .Mj'

.which extends rearwardly from in front of the ning tower 3, see Figs. 1 and 5.

In the cabin i5 of the boat, the rear end of the hull to a vertical plane at the front of the con- ;operating shaft H! has fastened to it an opera'ting'lever it, which swings at the rear of an arcuate bar I1, fastened to. the frontwall I8 of the cabin I5, as shown in Figs. 1 and The rear side of the arcuate bar I! is ,providedwith ".twospacedapart notches l9 and 20. The lever of the boat fastened to the boat,

2 designates the hull of a -power-pro-' its objecm I6 is in the notch 19, as shown in solid lines in 5 Fig. 5, it is the locking position, in which position, the shaft I4 holds the radial armsl3, in the position shown in Fig. 3, inwhich the fingers II respectively extend through the, holes ID in the pairs of pushing bars 8 and 9 andlocktherbars 10 of alinedi pairs to each'other, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. As shown in the drawing, the front ends of wt bars 9 are, forked, and the reari-endsiroflitherbarss ,8 extend respectively between the arms of suclii szztherefor, as many typ of Such may be 9111- ployed with advantage in the use of my inventitm: 'NordoI"confine my invention to the speforked ends. a For bracing the bars 9 to each other, there is" provided an arcuate transverse-basil! ltheiirmelzr r,

side of which is rigidly secured to the outer sides of the bars 9 adjacent to their forward endsj as* 0 shownin Figs; Lto 4";

For serving the double theponnection between ,-the.*ztorpedoandztherboat hull,- and of serving to ;-p.ush the-torpedo: latter;

the ;locking; means; already; described;, has-sheen released, there; is provided; a:- lon itudinal fligid bar; 22, the rear endlof which isfastened oithe under side of the-frontlendlpportion of :the hull I; and; extendsiforwardlw therefrmminto'gazdongitudinalhole 231providedlin ;thezreamend portion: 3a

of.;the;torpedoil-,. assshownzin Hgsohandnfii; 1

Ron preventing the. barseB and: 9e fronrda'tera'l' movement at their attachedaends toethe torpedo: and", boatv respectively; they: have:- such attached;

in lthelztorpedo body and hull ill ofsthes-boat; such groove! :being shown'in Fig: 8 in'which -the rear end i of-ithe bar 9-: is 1 disposed and"? fastened bolt- 25.

The-bars being ilock'ed togetherg ajs s'hovmeih:

Figs. 1, 2 and 3, by the fingers ll of the loclr mechanism; 1 title-boat -controlledbystheppcrater of the boat, propels =thetorpedo I *to tli'e location where it desired to release it f or it" tm effect its function: 'When-thetorpedo lias been 451 position, thus turning the radial arm l 3 '?to ithe' release position shown inFigLv 4, in ,whicliflpos i-il tion the fingers II will? have, beenfwi'thdrawn-f from lock'edTengage'ment with bars. .8 land =91 The supplemental pushing bar '22 Z is. still? on:

gaged with the torpedo, so asrto-push itiorward untilb'y itsown poweritisepropelledforwardly atewhich time, the supplemental .pushingbar nl is withdrawn from theh'ole 23," and thetorlpedo, V

ispropelled by its own power, a rearipropelle'n 25,1 18. 1, toitsobjective;

then submerge, if he. sosdesires or 'turn away and, seek safe quarters.

50 launched relation 'to'said-boat.

' release the coupling to have the torpedo pro- 1 ceed under its own power.

With my invention, a small submarine, operated by one person can propel and steer a torpedo, unobserved, to close striking distance from an objective, as a battle ship or other vessel, then release the torpedo to have it continue its course to the objective, and then, due to its small size, turn away, submerged if in daylight, or on ,thefisurface, if a'tlnight and proceed from anyidang'erous location near the objective, if

, such be awarship.

My invention is not confined to any specie of torpedoes-,1 onof; propelling and steering boats ciflci-sililletureshonm and described, as one form of myinvention, as many modifications thereof, withiirtlie scope of the appended claims, may be madeew ithouttdepartingrfrom the-spirittof my invention. v

lhIiLa torpedo propelling ,and steering means, in combination, ,a: selftpropelledltorpedo, a'- boat-.- having, power operated: propelling means,-., two longitudinal bars,- one ffastenedgtoiand extending, rearwardly-from .saidAtorpedo, thaothen bar-Ibeing, fastenedtto .s and.- extending forwardly; fromsaid boat, the torpedo being disposed launched, imthe water in z front ofisaid boat, ,and-:headed in: the, samewdirection I and 1 means; releasable by: an operator on said boat-couplings together said 1 bars and: holding said, torpedoin" fixed launchem ends disposed inlongitudinalagroovesrespectively: 35i' n to saidboat.

2} In a torpedo. propelling and steeringrmeans in combination; a self propelled torpedo,,a-boat; havingtpower. operated .propelling means arpmrality. ofulongitudinahb'ars fastenedma and. ex? tending, rearwardl-y. fromr and; spaced, apart around? the periphery of the torpedo, zap-plurality, of "longitudinal, bars. fastened :to and .1 extending. forwardlyfrom and-.1 spaced. apart aroundi the periphery of saidboat, .the torpedobeingdis'posed Iaun'ch'ed'ifi the waterfiniffont' of said boat and. headed in the same direction andlmeans, relasableiby 'an' operatorgonjv said"boat,.. coupling. saidfiistnamedfbar's" respectively, to said second namedjbars an'dfliolding said torpedo in .fixed 3. Ina torpedo propelling and steeringmeans, combination; a" self propelldtorpedo, a boat at the rear thereof headed ir'rth'esamefdirection and havingpoweroperated propelling means, a longitudinal bar'- fastened' to and extending rear wardly from the, torpedo and-havingafti'ansverse perforation, 'said torpedo being launched in the waterra longitudinal'bar'iastenedto' and ex tending forwardlyir'cmsaid-= boat'=and' having:a transverse perforation" aliri'ed with saidv first named perforation; a -loclfin'g 'memberextendingremovably through said perforations-forhol'din'g" together "said bars and holding -said torp'edo ii 1 fined 'launched: relation tosaidboat; and 'means" The operator, of the, p eumg, boat. l, .can

on said boat for withdrawing said' locki1rg-mem= berzsfromz'iat :least one of -said perforatitms te releasealsaidzibarsifrorm'eaeh mtheri illma torpedoiprop'elling amd stering means; inmcombinatiQmLpsselfLpBQpeHed' torpetwe a' boat Whenthe push bars 8 are coupled to thev push- 1; th g .rth fi a m h s bars Bias has been described,, the torpedo is ,disposedjalready launched in theiwater infronti-tof the boat! and headed in the same direction, in, fikedlaunch'ed relationlthereto, Sb-illS iS but r pelliugz; means anlongittdinalpushingmember fastenedvtozand exteriding' reanward ly ffom-'-the L torpedo miich ielaunehed in the'water and headedzimrtheisameedirectionvasi'said boat, pushing quired to face theboat toward :Q WV flndr 755131231151 om'esaidaboat; rela'sable locking 1 means connecting said pushing member with said pushing means and holding said torpedo in fixed launched relation to said boat, and means on said boat for operating said locking means to release said pushing member from said pushing means.

5. In a torpedo propelling and steering means, in combination, a self propelled torpedo, a boat at the rear thereof having power operated propelling means, two longitudinal bars fastened peripherally spaced apart to and extending rearwardly from the torpedo, two longitudinal bars in substantial alinement with said two bars and fastened to and extending forwardly from said boat, an oscillative member on said boat extending forwardly therefrom, and means looking together respectively said first named bars and said second named bars and actuated by said oscillative member when it is swung in one direction for simultaneously releasing the first named bars from the last named bars.

6. In a torpedo propelling and steering means, in combination, a self propelled torpedo, a boat at the rear thereof having power operated propelling means, spaced apart longitudinal bars fastened to the periphery of and extending rearwardly from the torpedo, spaced apart bars fastened to and extending forwardly from said boat respectively in substantial alinement with said first named bars, a longitudinal shaft oscillative on its axis and extending forwardly from said boat, and means actuated by said shaft when the latter is turned to one position for locking said first named bars to said second named bars respectively and which locking means releases said bars from each other when said shaft is turned from said position.

7. In a torpedo propelling and steering means,

in combination, a self propelled torpedo, a boat at the rear thereof having power operated propelling means, spaced apart longitudinal bars fastened to and extending rearwardly from the torpedo, spaced apart bars fastened to and extending forwardly from said boat substantially alined with said first named bars, each pair of said alined bars having transverse holes adapted to register with each other, a longitudinal shaft oscillative on its axis on and extending forwardly from said boat, and locking means on and oscillative with said shaft and adapted to be extended through said holes for locking together the alined ones of said bars when said shaft is turned in one direction to one position, and withdrawn from said holes and releasing said alined bars from each other when said shaft is turned in the opposite direction from said position.

8. In a torpedo propelling and steering means, in combination, a, power propelled boat, a push bar fastened to and extending longitudinally forwardly therefrom, and a self propelled torpedo disposed launched in the water in front of said boat and headed in the same direction and having a longitudinal rearwardly facing hole closed at its front end, said push bar being removably slidably fitted in said hole and abutting at its front end against the closed end of said hole-and by which said boat can push and steer said torpedo and be automatically released therefrom.

, CHRIST T. PE'I'KOFF. 

